Puberty Suppressants Trial Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department of Health and Social Care
Carla Denyer
Main Page: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)Department Debates - View all Carla Denyer's debates with the Department of Health and Social Care
Puberty Suppressants Trial
Carla Denyer Excerpts(1 day, 20 hours ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Watch Debate Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
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Wes Streeting
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Regardless of whether people are receiving this medication or not, we need to ensure that they receive the right therapeutic support to enable them to have healthy, happy childhoods and to understand themselves, the world they live in and how they relate to it in a way that does not cause them distress or harm. That is my objective in this process.
Carla Denyer (Bristol Central) (Green)
For young people questioning their gender, the pathways trial is currently the only route by which they are allowed to access puberty blockers, which are a treatment that can provide vital respite from the anguish of going through puberty in a body that does not match your gender, before long-term decisions may or may not be made as an adult. I therefore welcome the announcement of the trial, while recognising that significant barriers to entry remain. How will the Secretary of State ensure that as many young people as need to can access the trial, including those who need to access puberty blockers as part of support to improve their mental health?
Wes Streeting
I do not doubt the hon. Member’s sincerity and integrity on this issue, but I say to her respectfully that when she talks about barriers to entry, those “barriers” are safety and clinical oversight, as well as parental consent and the assent of the young person. I do not believe that those are barriers; I believe that those are necessary bars for participation in this trial.